Washington D.C. – In a significant blow to former President Donald Trump’s trade policies, the Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that his imposition of tariffs on billions of dollars worth of goods under the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 was unconstitutional. The decision effectively dismantles a key component of Trump’s economic agenda, which aimed to protect domestic industries through protectionist measures. Yet, the former president has already signaled his intent to circumvent the ruling, vowing to implement a new 10% global tariff if re-elected.
The court found that the tariffs, enacted in 2018, exceeded the authority granted to the president by Congress. The case centered on whether the tariffs were legitimately imposed to address national security concerns, as the Trump administration claimed. The justices determined that the administration had improperly used the 1962 Act, which was intended for specific, targeted trade actions, to enact broad, sweeping tariffs impacting a wide range of imports. This ruling has implications for international trade relations and could lead to challenges to other tariffs imposed during the Trump presidency. The decision is expected to boost the South African rand and benefit some South African exporters, according to News24.
Supreme Court Decision Details
The Supreme Court’s ruling effectively strikes down tariffs imposed on steel and aluminum imports, as well as subsequent tariffs on goods from China and other countries. According to
